good lad: ask Captain Jackson."

"Jackson! I thought the Captain's name had been le Harnois."

"All's one for _that_: le Harnois or Jackson; one name's as good as
t'other. But I wouldn't be the man to put you upon asking the Captain
any such a thing. It's odds? but you'd be sent overboard, my good lad,
head over heels--that's to say on any day when the Captain had taken
his breakfast. No, no: high as it's perched up amongst the eagle's
nests, that d---d old castle has been the rock that many a good ship
has struck on. But wait till three or four o'clock; and then maybe
we'll put you on ashore further down."

When wishes are hopeless, the mind is soon reconciled to give them up.
Bertram felt that his were so; and, contentedly stretching himself
again upon the deck, surrendered his thoughts to the influence of the
lovely scenery before him.

At length the sun was setting, and another reach of coast had unfolded
upon his view, when all at once he heard the dash of oars; and on
rising up, he observed a little skiff rapidly nearing them. In a few
minutes she boarded the _Fleurs de lys_: and all was life and motion
upon deck. Casks and packages were interchanged; and private signals
in abundance passed between the different parties. Bertram took the
opportunity of bargaining for a passage to shore; and was in the act of
stepping into the boat, when he was suddenly summoned before the
Captain.

He found the old tiger on the quarterdeck, and in one of his blander
humours. Captain le Harnois was sitting on a coil of rope, his back
reclining against a carronade, with a keg of brandy on the dexter hand
and a keg of whisky on the sinister. An air of grim good humour was
spread over his features; he had just awaked from slumber; was for a
few minutes sober; and had possibly forgotten the heterodoxy of his
passenger; whom he saluted thus:

"Well, sweet Sir, and how goes the world with you?"

"Captain le Harnois, I understand that I can have a passage in the boat
alongside; and I am really anxious to go ashore."

"Well, Tom, and what's to hinder it? The shore's big enough to hold
you: and, if it isn't, I can't make it bigger."

"Then, Captain, I have the honour to wish you a very good evening."

"The same to you, Tom; and I have the honour, Tom, to drink your
worship's health."

"I thank you, Sir; and perhaps you will allow me to leave a trifle to
drink for the boat's crew that brought me aboard."

"Do, Tom, leave a tr